Continuous flow electroflocculation water treatment system

Abstract

A method is disclosed in which water is pumped continuously into one end of a container, the pollutants are captured and floated to the surface, the treated and cleaned water flows out the other end and the floated pollutants are removed. In one embodiment, the system consists of at least one container that has a set of electrically active plates and a mechanism for capturing and removing the pollutants that are floated to the surface by the electrically active plates. Multiple containers can be connected in series and used for similar or separate purposes to remove the pollutants. In another embodiment, the single container is partitioned into a multiple of chambers. Each chamber can be used for a similar or separate purpose, which purpose depends upon the application. In both embodiments, the primary reaction consists of electroflocculation, in which a low voltage is applied across a set of metal plates. This liberates metal ions and gas bubbles. The metal ions capture the pollutants and the gas bubbles float them to the surface. The whole process is done in a manner in which the floated pollutants form a stable layer on the surface of the flowing water. Different sets of metal plates can be used in separate chambers to remove different pollutants. The voltage to the plates is controlled in such a manner as to provide a known charge dose to the water as it passes through the apparatus at a Known rate. This is controlled by monitoring and controlling both the rate at which the water flows and the rate at which the electric charge is imparted through the water. In operation water is pumped into the first chamber where it is treated with the first set of plates. It can then flow into a second chamber, with a barrier mechanism that limits the surface floe from flowing with it. This process can be repeated in other chambers until the water is adequately treated with different sets of plates. The water can then flow into additional chambers in which much of the residual floe and bubbles floats to the surface. Each chamber has a wall over which the floe can flow into a drain mechanism, and a mechanism for getting the floe to flow over the wall. In this manner these continuous flow electroflocculation water treatment systems operate like a membrane free filter or a chemical free dissolved air flotation system.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for removing pollutants from water, the apparatus comprising:
 a set of electrodes that can be immersed in water, the set of electrodes including:
 a first electrode comprised of a first series of parallel plates electrically connected to each other by a connection; 
 a second electrode comprised of a second series of parallel plates electrically connected to each other and interspersed between the first series of parallel plates; 
 a third electrode comprised of a third series of parallel plates electrically connected to each other and to the second electrode; and 
 a fourth electrode comprised of a fourth series of parallel plates electrically connected to each other and to the second electrode and interspersed between the first series of parallel plates; 
   one or more spacers holding the first, second, third and fourth series of parallel plates;   at least one stand supporting the first, second, third and fourth series of parallel plates and the spacers; and   a power supply assembly electrically connecting one or more plates in the first series of parallel plates to one or more plates in the second series of parallel plates such that, when immersed in water, ions are generated and pass from the first electrode to the second electrode, from where the ions are converted to electrical current that is passed to the third electrode, from where the ions generate another set of ions that travel to the fourth electrode.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the first electrode is an anode and the fourth electrode is a cathode. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein one or more plates in the series of parallel plates can generate at least one of aluminum or iron ions. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising one or more insulating barriers between the first and the second series of parallel plates and the third and fourth series of parallel plates. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the spacers are insulated. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus described  claim 11  in which it is inserted in a container having at least one water inlet and outlet. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as described in  claim 16  in which a controller is configured to adjust the rate at which water flows through the water inlet to match the current passing through the water when the electrical potential is so applied to provide the water being treated with a predetermined charge dose per unit volume of water. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the controller is arranged to monitor the current passed through the set of electrodes and the rate at which the water flows through the container and adjust the current passed through the set of electrodes such that the charge dose delivered to a volume of water by each of the first electrode and the second electrode is the same. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the controller causes a charge density provided by one or more of the first and second electrodes to be less than 300 amps per square meter. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 11  configured to adjust the rate at which water flows through the water inlet such that a substantial portion of a floc having at least some the flocculating metal ions and at least some of the pollutants accumulate on the surface of the water for subsequent removal. 
     
     
         21 . A method for removing pollutants from water, the method comprising the steps of:
 substantially immersing a set of electrodes in water, the set of electrodes including:
 a first electrode comprised of a first series of parallel plates electrically connected to each other by a connection; 
 a second electrode comprised of a second series of parallel plates electrically connected to each other and interspersed between the first series of parallel plates; 
 a third electrode comprised of a third series of parallel plates electrically connected to each other and the second electrode; and 
 a fourth electrode comprised of a fourth series of parallel plates electrically connected to each other and the second electrode and interspersed between the first series of parallel plates; 
   one or more spacers holding the first, second, third and fourth series of parallel plates, and at least one stand supporting the first second, third and fourth series of parallel plates and the spacers; and   applying a positive voltage to a first electrical lead and a negative voltage to a fourth electrical lead such that ions are generated and pass from the first electrode to the second electrode, from where the ions are converted to electrical current that is passed to the third electrode, from where the ions generate another set of ions that travel to the fourth electrode.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the first electrode is an anode and the fourth electrode is a cathode. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein one or more plates in the series of parallel plates can generate at least one of aluminum or iron ions. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising one or more insulating barriers between the first and the second series of parallel plates on the one part and the third and fourth series of parallel plates on the other part. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the spacers are insulated. 
     
     
         26 . The method described in any of  claim 21  in which the electrode electrode set is inserted in a container having at least one water inlet and outlet. 
     
     
         27 . The method as described in  claim 26  in which a controller is configured to adjust the rate at which water flows through the water inlet to match the current passing through the water when the electrical potential is so applied to provide the water being treated with a predetermined charge dose per unit volume of water. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising monitoring the current passed through the electrode configuration and the rate at which the water flows through the container and adjusting the current passed through the first electrode and the second electrode such that the charge dose delivered to a volume of water by each of the first electrode and the second electrode is the same. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising causing a charge density provided by one or more of the first and second electrodes to be less than 300 amps per square meter. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising adjusting the rate at which water flows through the water inlet such that a substantial portion of a floc having at least some the flocculating metal ions and at least some of the pollutants accumulate on the surface of the water for subsequent removal.